One of my favorite blogs for writers is Kristen Lamb’s. It never fails to entertain and enlighten. Her post today was timely. She wrote of how writers cannot please everyone, and how the perfectionists among us fall prey to that old ‘people-pleasing’ habit that destroys our passion and our art—a reminder I needed since I recently entered the world of writing contests. She said:
“I’ve seen this happen time and time again… [Writers] rework and rework…trying to make it ‘perfect’—which is actually code for ‘making everyone happy.’ Here is the thing. Not gonna happen. Ever. One person will say our book is too wordy. Another wants more description. We add more description and then another person is slashing through, slaughtering every adjective and metaphor.”
Go read the entire post, my writer friends. You’ll feel better for having done so.
When I decided to join the Romance Writers of America® late
last year, I did so unsure that I’d actually written a romance, but quite
certain my stories included a ‘strong romantic element.’ The amazing array of
resources the association offers their membership is impressive. It was only
later I learned about the world of contests. Not all contests are created equal,
but almost all offer feedback in the form of extensive score sheets from judges.
The preliminary round judges are volunteers, members ranging from readers to
published writers. Most chapters train their judges on how to review and score
the entries, and the final judges are publishing industry professionals giving
the finalists a chance to get their work before editors and agents.
Despite having put my first manuscript through a rather
rigorous three-month-long, invitation-only revision workshop, and having many
beta readers, both writers and readers, friends and strangers, I decided I
might benefit from the impartial feedback of these contest judges. I entered my
manuscript in a few, then a few more, also entering my sequel to see if it
stands alone. Over the last two months, I began receiving my results. It has
been, and continues to be, an educational and eye-opening experience—not for
the faint of heart—but I’m confident no different from the range of response I
would get from rank and file readers. I can say without hesitation, the process
is well worth the time and expense if you can enter the contests with an open
mind and a thick skin.
Which brings me back to Kristen Lamb’s comments—before
you enter these contests, it’s important that you are confident in your story
and your craft, enough to recognize and utilize worthwhile criticism and resist the
urge to please everyone. My score sheets have ranged from perfect scores and
high praise to embarrassingly low scores and scathing remarks. One judge wanted to
“start a fire” with it and another proclaimed the heroine was an unlikable “uppity
bitch.” But for every comment that kicked me in the teeth and made me shake my
head, there were plenty that made me want to kiss the judge, especially the
ones expressing a desire to see my manuscript in book form so they could buy it
and read the full story. However, the most beneficial comment that I kept
seeing over and over, on low and high scores alike, whether they liked the
characters or not—they were intrigued and wanted to keep reading. THAT is what I want, and that alone told
me I needed to trust my gut. That’s not to say I didn’t take a lot of great
criticism and put it to use. I did and still do if I believe it improves the
manuscript…and if it pleases ME.
I am happy to say the manuscript was chosen a finalist in
two contests, WRWDC’s Marlene Awards and Chicago-North RWA® Fire and Ice Contest,
and went on to win and receive full requests from the final judge in each. Fingers
crossed it pleases them, too.
